Skip to main content

Fast-track your future: How prior learning credits propel cybersecurity careers

Earning a degree can be a daunting task, especially for those balancing work, family and other aspects of life. What if there was a way to fast-track that journey, saving time and money and helping you stand out when looking for a career in cybersecurity?

Boise State’s cyber operations and resilience program and Credit for Prior Learning allow you to find a way to accelerate your academic and career path. By turning professional experience into academic credit, you can expedite your path to a rewarding career in cybersecurity and stand out from other job applicants. This brings us to someone able to do just that: Makayla Danley.

Danley’s start in cybersecurity

Portrait of Makayla Danley
Makayla Danley. Photo provided by Danley.

Danley, an experienced cybersecurity practitioner, got an early start in the field by joining the Idaho Air National Guard at 18. Through her service in the Idaho Air National Guard, Danley was able to enroll in the Joint Cyber Analysis Course (JCAC) provided by the National Security Agency.

When asked why she chose cybersecurity specifically, Danley said, “I have always been a really analytical person. I love looking at problems and finding solutions. I got a good enough score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery that cyber was an opportunity I could take. When I explained my aptitudes and my desires it just felt like a really good marriage between cybersecurity and myself.”

Time at Boise State

Danley says she “found the cyber operations and resilience program a little by accident.” Her husband was taking a cybersecurity course in electrical engineering led by Sin Ming Loo, the cyber operations and resilience program director. Loo described his program and Danley realized that it was exactly what she was looking for.

Danley particularly enjoyed her studies in Recovery and Forensics along with Information Assurance and Critical Thinking. She described the courses as vital for understanding the complexities of cybersecurity while also reinforcing concepts that enhanced her knowledge beyond purely technical skills.

Putting her education on the fast track

Utilizing her previous experience with the Idaho Air National Guard, Danley showcased her vast toolkit of skills and knowledge to be the first cyber operations and resilience program student to use Credit for Prior Learning.

“I had learned about this opportunity through my advisor and he recommended that it might be something I might be interested in because I have years of experience. He linked me with Loo and we discussed the process.”

Danley excelled and was able to get two courses worth of credits. During the process, she gathered documentation from her time with JCAC, the books she’d read and letters from different supervisors showing her level of knowledge and expertise.

Reflecting on her experience, she explains that she found it “personally very fulfilling going through that class and putting into words what I had gone through and my experience. It prepared me for an interview because I was able to explain all of these different situations and then sit back and say, ‘Wow, I did a LOT!’”

Through her efforts with Credit for Prior Learning, Danley was able to earn six credits to fast-track her success at Boise State, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience in 2022.

Current role in the cybersecurity field

Danley now works as a security engineer in the risk management department at St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center. She finds the work incredibly important, saying, “Cyber is interesting enough to split it into different sides. There’s the soft side and there’s the technical side. A lot of people are really excited about the technical side and just want to slam on a keyboard and say ‘I’m a hacker,’ but I find a lot of enjoyment out of the paperwork side, the softer side, and the analysis side. Those are your legal protections. Those are things like HIPAA, PCI — that’s ensuring that you are keeping companies accountable.”

Danley also offered some advice to current and future students in the cyber operations and resilience program. She encourages students to reach out to classmates and instructors, highlighting the value of engaging in discussions and seeking help when it’s needed. She also advised, “Never be afraid of looking stupid.” Danley understands that asking questions is key to learning and overcoming imposter syndrome in cybersecurity.

Turning experience into credits: Credit for Prior Learning

Earning a degree through Boise State’s online cyber operations and resilience program is beneficial to anyone looking to broaden their horizons and open the doors to the many exciting and engaging opportunities in the cybersecurity field. The program not only focuses on foundational and hands-on cybersecurity skills but also honors those who have experience in the field.

Boise State University’s Credit for Prior Learning offers students a unique opportunity to fast-track their education through the creation of a prior learning portfolio or earn credit for courses that align with certain professional certificates. The cyber operations and resilience program knows that not all learning is done in a classroom setting. Sometimes it’s during someone’s time in the field.

With a portfolio that highlights prior learning and experience, you can earn up to one-third of the credits needed for graduation, giving you credit for the valuable skills and knowledge you’ve already gained.

Get started today

Ready to take the first step? Contact a student success coach and learn more about Credit for Prior Learning.

Written by Ashley Furr.